Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, for coming in to address the important issue of the reduction in special education teaching, SET, hours at Kilbride National School, Trim, County Meath and many schools across my constituency of Meath West.

In response to parliamentary questions I submitted, the Department of Education stated 67% of schools saw their allocation increase or remain the same while 33% experienced a reduction in hours and that, of the schools that experienced a reduction in hours, 90% was as a result of falling enrolment. In September 2021, enrolment at Kilbride National School was 158 pupils and it received an allocation of 52.5 hours for the academic years of 2022-23 and 2023-24. In September this year, the projected increased enrolment is 192 pupils, with allocated hours reduced to 47.5. That is with a projected increase of 34 pupils. Does that not make nonsense of the Department's answer that 90% of schools where hours were cut was because of falling enrolment?

It is concerning a school with no change in the number of students with additional needs and a growing enrolment has been subjected to a cut in hours. Kilbride National School has reviewed the pillars used to assess the allocation granted and the main rationale for the change appears to be high standardised assessment results achieved by the school. These were achieved by hard work. I commend the principal, Deirdre Murphy, and all her staff. She is passionate about the school and every one of the pupils, leaving nobody behind. The school has achieved high standards by the effective and correct use of SET resources, ensuring all students with additional needs received the minimum required support to enable them to access the curriculum within the mainstream classroom. They would not have been able to achieve this with reduced support, especially considering growing numbers. It would be unfair for the school and children to be penalised because of this success. If the cut to special education teacher hours is not reversed, the school will find it very challenging to distribute the 47.5 hours fairly and adequately and to ensure each child access to the curriculum. The school is concerned about the income it will have on all children in the mainstream class setting as it is evident the cut to hours will put extraordinary pressure on teachers to support all the children. Inevitably, the children will suffer.

The principal has submitted an appeal to the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, that the allocated be reversed and increased. It is not fair that 33% of schools across the country have SET hours cut on pupils who need it most. I call on the Minister of State as the Minister responsible to reverse the cuts. Will she commit to that tonight?

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